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Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

  • 1.  Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 14:29
    We have a client that is looking at various sales tax services. They want to know if anyone has experience with one of the other tax services other than Avalara. Any information would be helpful.
    Thanks

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    Avron Katz
    K-Four Systems, LLC
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  • 2.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 14:56
    We have a customer who was frustrated by Avalara prices and switched to Vertex. 

    While he's saving some money, I'm not sure it was worth it. 

    Sorry, no details on the difference, but this user clearly sees that Avatax is superior.

    ------------------------------
    Eric Lunceford
    First Mate Business Solutions
    Oklahoma City, OK
    877-880-8960
    https://www.firstmatellc.com/
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 15:08

     

    Hi there

     

    I am helping a client (not me personally but I am coordinating) an integration with Sovos.  Although I cannot speak of the actual integration since it is being developed, so far the project implementation has been superb.

     

    Let me know and I can connect you to a contact there.

     

    Thank you,

     

     

     signature_2017834372

    Douglas Luchansky

    ACI Consulting

    p 714.282.0378 ext. 302    f 714.282.0235

     

    douglas@ACIconsulting.com

     

            signature_773489535            

    This communication, including attachments, is confidential and may contain proprietary information intended only for the proposed recipient. Please notify the sender and delete this message if you believe that you have received this message in error or if you are not the proposed recipient. Unauthorized disclosure, copying, or distribution of the information is strictly prohibited.

     

     

     



    ------Original Message------

    We have a client that is looking at various sales tax services. They want to know if anyone has experience with one of the other tax services other than Avalara. Any information would be helpful.
    Thanks

    ------------------------------
    Avron Katz
    K-Four Systems, LLC
    ------------------------------


  • 4.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 15:29
    I have one customer who has been desperate to replace Avalara for years.  They tried Vertex and thought the product was better but the Sage 100 integration was awful, so went back to Avalara, but would definitely like an alternative.

    Another just looked at Avalara but thought the price was ridicuous.

    Complicating factor:  one uses CIMCloud and the other uses  WooCommerce, so the alternative tax platform would have to work with those as well.

    ------------------------------
    Phil McIntosh
    President
    Friendly Systems, Inc.
    Asheville NC
    678.273.4010 ext 5
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 15:35
    There as also a discussion here recently about Tax Jar.  Their pricing is much better than Avalara but they do not sponsor integrations, although they will provide free support for a developer creating one.

    ------------------------------
    Phil McIntosh
    President
    Friendly Systems, Inc.
    Asheville NC
    678.273.4010 ext 5
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 15:38

    Thanks for the response. It appears as if many are frustrated with Avalara.

     

    Avron Katz

    President

    K-Four Systems, LLC

    P: 774 233 0467 Cell: 508 380 1720

    www.kfoursystems..com  e-mail: avron@kfoursystems.com

     

     

    IMPORTANT: The contents of this email and any attachments are confidential. They are intended for the named recipient(s) only.  If you have received this email in error, please notify the system manager or the sender immediately and do not disclose the contents to anyone or make copies thereof.

    P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

     

     

     



    ------Original Message------

    I have one customer who has been desperate to replace Avalara for years.  They tried Vertex and thought the product was better but the Sage 100 integration was awful, so went back to Avalara, but would definitely like an alternative.

    Another just looked at Avalara but thought the price was ridicuous.

    Complicating factor:  one uses CIMCloud and the other uses  WooCommerce, so the alternative tax platform would have to work with those as well.

    ------------------------------
    Phil McIntosh
    President
    Friendly Systems, Inc.
    Asheville NC
    678.273.4010 ext 5
    ------------------------------


  • 7.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 15:44
    (I am always astonished at how complex Sales Tax laws are in the US.  We don't have municipal sales taxes in Canada, making administration of taxes so much easier up here).

    ------------------------------
    Kevin Moyes
    Technical Systems Analyst
    Munjal White Consulting Co.
    Toronto ON
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 16:37
    I'm really curious to hear more about the issues with Vertex.  Please elaborate, @Phil McIntosh and @Eric Lunceford. 
    ​​

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    Moira Goggin
    Chismet Consulting Corp.
    Long Beach CA
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 17:22
    Didn't follow proper programming practices, using custom office sent the Vertex buttons missing. various things like that...also found out that Alabama tax wasn't processed for Whole month...

    ------------------------------
    Phil McIntosh
    President
    Friendly Systems, Inc.
    Asheville NC
    678.273.4010 ext 5
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 21:00
    I’ve had no complaints from Avatax clients, either with integration or API or price. I have an issue with mandated $2k implementation charge. I do wish they would invest in Use Tax and Exemption Certificate integration which exists for larger systems. DSD is updating the Connector for 2019. Anxious to see what changed.

    ---------------------------------
    Bob Pfahnl
    General Manager - Silicon Valley Office
    DSD Business Systems
    CA
    408-641-0922
    ---------------------------------



    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 21:27
    There are several comments about the high price of Avalara.  Are the margins to the consultant high also?  I have a couple of inherited Avalara customers and I have yet to receive s nickel.

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    Doug Higgs
    Assistant Technical Support / Building Maintenance Specialist
    Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 21:57
    It’s on the Sage Price List so should be a renewal.
    I think 25% margin.

    ---------------------------------
    Bob Pfahnl
    General Manager - Silicon Valley Office
    DSD Business Systems
    CA
    408-641-0922
    ---------------------------------



    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 22:19
    @Bob Pfahnl - I agree with you - no complaints from any customers on the software, integration or cost.​​ Sales tax is not something to treat lightly. The states want their money and will get it, and penalties can be steep, with California being the worst (or the best at collecting their money). The software becomes more critical depending on number of jurisdictions and type of business. I have not found any alternatives as good as Avalara, especially as the calculations become more complex.

    ------------------------------
    John Hoyt
    Forming Solutions: john.hoyt@formingsolutions.com
    Next Level Manufacturing Consulting Group: johnh@nextlevelMCG.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 22:43
    I thought Avalara charged by the transaction.  Does the consultant get a piece of the per transaction fee?

    ------------------------------
    Doug Higgs
    Assistant Technical Support / Building Maintenance Specialist
    Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-23-2019 23:32
    Pricing is by transaction tier, though hits to the tax engine from Sales Orders will be accumulated and charged as transactions. Price tier selection based on SOs and SOIs should be part of the sales process.

    ---------------------------------
    Bob Pfahnl
    General Manager - Silicon Valley Office
    DSD Business Systems
    CA
    408-641-0922
    ---------------------------------



    Original Message


  • 16.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-24-2019 04:57
    @Doug Higgs I’m not positive exactly what Avalara pays on but I don’t think they commission transactions. I also think they only paid commission in certain parts of the implementation. I don’t consider them to be a revenue generator for me. Avalara is probably on par with Sage in terms of their speed of response to some sales requests. I warn customers it’s probably a 2 week setup from the word go and all completed paperwork. I had one issue with Avalara not saving SO history which was fixed. I wouldn’t say the integration is totally trouble free but it sounds better than the competitors. Also, anytime you have an issue with SO you now have to start with Sage and work to Avalara for support. All the while playing “prove it’s us” by being able to demo the problem. There’s definitely a wide variety of ways that ISVs compensate with many having a well defined automatic process while others are stuck in the 90s and only pay based on their perceived profitability of the install (ie - it was really hard, we threw a 3 person sales team at the issue, and they had to do more work so sorry no $). For the amount of money customers pay for this I consider Avalara a very low margin product that also increases the time to resolve typical SO related support. If the customer has a sales tax need I tend to recommend Avalara because the solution is proven. I do spend some time explaining the pitfalls ( slow administratively, cost, added support complexity ). I will ballpark the $ initially because as others mention the sticker shock factor here is very high and more than a few of my customers have taken a hard pass based on $. That being said, my experience is if we don’t bring these options up and discuss them then customers Google around and either find a VAR that will or they call the ISV directly. I try to the the source of info versus playing defense. It doesn’t always work and often customers don’t event mention their need until they are evaluating or buying..

    ---------------------------------
    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
    ---------------------------------





  • 17.  RE: Sales Tax Service other than Avalara

    Posted 08-24-2019 10:41
    Thanks @Bob Pfahnl and @Wayne Schulz. Terrific information.  I have an big Avalara deal that will most likely close in September.  At least it's big for Avalara not so much ongoing revenue for me.. do it seems.

    ------------------------------
    Doug Higgs
    Assistant Technical Support / Building Maintenance Specialist
    Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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